Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - In the Philippines about a third of the population lives below the poverty line. This is the second Asian country with the highest rates for electricity, after Japan. Thanks to the initiative "Isang Litrong Liwanag" ("A litre of light"), sponsored by the foundation "My Shelter" on the concept of the Technological Institute of Massachusetts in the United States, today about 25 000 households in the poorest parts of Manila benefit from almost free illumination. The ecological lamp, made with a simple plastic bottle filled with water and bleach, hanging from the roof of the Filipinos’ houses who have no access to artificial light or who cannot afford to pay for electricity, allows sunlight to pass through the bottle and, with the refraction of light that comes into contact with the liquid, the whole house is lit. This is an ecological initiative for everyone, made with materials and simple means. The volunteers of the program "A litre of light", helped by the Army during special occasions of charity, hold the bottle in a sheet of glass fiber with an opening in the middle, partially filled with purified water that promotes greater transparency and 3 tablespoons of bleach to prevent mold growth or other forms of life for at least 5 years. Then they close the bottle tightly, pierce the roof of the hut and fix the device. The narrow part of the bottle remains on the outside, like a little chimney, and captures the sunlight, the liquid expands and glows like a conventional light bulb at low energy consumption. Thanks to this device the poorest huts, often overcrowded and lack of lights, during the day they can get free lighting. Even if it does not work at night, the houses closest to the street lamps are able to get a little light after sunset. The approximate cost of the required materials, a bottle, a sheet of zinc or glass fiber, purified water, bleach and insulation to secure the device, is about a dollar and, up till now materials, assembly and placement of the bulb have been supported by donations. The final goal is not to depend on benefactors but form small entrepreneurs with technical knowledge to be able to install the lights from house to house at a modest price, while fighting unemployment among the poorest Filipinos. By the end of the year we hope to illuminate with these bulbs 100 000 shacks, and a million other by the end of 2012. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 06/12/2011)
